I thought maybe I should round this off with a few words about the country so many people come to visit as tourists. All this time I'm thinking Europe is so exotic and amazing, and then I remember tourism is our main industry, and it's pretty easy to see why...
Flights: Let me just say that Air New Zealand staff ROCK with casual laid back kiwi friendliness that you completely don't realise you missed until you are getting on your flight home.
It's a bit of a shock to the system hearing shockingly fast and mumbled announcements tho, in a language that only some would recognise as English. Even I couldn't catch most of what was said.
My personal highlight was hearing a flight attendant man ask a passenger "do you want chups?" just like in the infamous beach whale video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdVHZwI8pcA
Anyway, they moved me from the Japan-school-trip end of the plane to a row at the front where I got 3 seats to myself and even some sleep. Woot
Day hotel at Tokyo Narita Airport: best 4 hours sleep I ever paid for! SO worth it.
View out window over New Zealand: Spectacular of course! Where else can you can snowy volcanic mountains right next to beach after beach after beach, rolling hills, desert, farmland and cities and blue skies and thousands of kms of native bush, all viewable in one glance out your airplane window?? You could even see the sheep and the boats.
Arrival at Auckland airport: Do you know you can get a breakfast combo in NZ for equivalent of 3 Euros??? INSANE MADNESS. NZ is SO cheap.
Greeting party: 2 of my favourite men. They didn't let me carry my bags, not even my cabin bag. Oh I love kiwis.
P-town mall: Gangsta fresh. Yeah it sucks that kiwis don't have that same international style, and in general don't care that much about presentation . But being able to wear your trackies ("Bum pants"), hoody and sneakers to the mall (or go barefoot. Or wear slippers) without getting any dirty looks has got to count for something!
(I know there are kiwi girls out there who will protest madly at this. Go to Europe.)
Bed: Oh yeah my bed is so freakin comfortable. Too bad jetlag has got me waking up at 3am every single morning, exhausted or not.. gah
Food: Ok so I've spent like every post so far describing amazing European food. But it ends here. Because my mum makes the best lemon meringue pie in the whole wide world and tomorrow we're having roast lamb with kumara and gravy and caramelised vegetables which we do almost every Sunday lunch and the rest of the world just can't compete. SORRY.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Tell everybody I'm on my way.... thanks Phil Collins
for providing the soundtrack to my post!
Ok, so I was peeeeeved at 5am this morning, and not everything in the last 2 posts makes sense... and its very longwinded... probably quite boring too.... erm. I will try reconcile myself here.
It's been 2 months since I've been in NZ and I've got the classic "It was so long and yet so short" thing going on which I won't bore you with.
What I have to say is this:
- Europe is pretty rad. We are tight like this.
- I know I'm going to be frustrated with NZ fashion and lack of baked goods when I get back! Probably sulk for a few months before I set foot in Glassons...
- Everything in this trip has fallen into place perfectly. I've been well looked after and had plenty of angels help me out. In the words of my wise friend Rashi, "everyone can be an angel to somebody". Chur Rashi! And sometimes I think there's more to it also.
- It's all about the people. Including NZ people. So I'm ready to go back and have some cakey reunions. YAY
-When I first arrived in Europe I was scared to sit in the wrong seat in the train or to order food or eat alone at restaurants. I probably walked around like a lost scared little sheep. I didn't like hanging out by myself because it was scary. I was worried I'd get hit by trams when crossing the roads. I let people push in the queue in front of me and didn't know how to use the dont-mess-with-me European look or the I'm-not-foreign strut. I guess I must have changed because all I can say to that now is: FUNNY
- This trip wasnt a standard tourist trip. I got to do tonnes of random extra stuff. It was completely worth it. My advice would be don't cave to the pressure to do and see certain things. If you are an explorer at heart, you will find other things that interest you and get different memories than everyone else.
- I kinda like writing. What am I gonna write now?
(on that note, what am I gonna DO now? Anyone want to order some chocolates...?)
Ok, so I was peeeeeved at 5am this morning, and not everything in the last 2 posts makes sense... and its very longwinded... probably quite boring too.... erm. I will try reconcile myself here.
It's been 2 months since I've been in NZ and I've got the classic "It was so long and yet so short" thing going on which I won't bore you with.
What I have to say is this:
- Europe is pretty rad. We are tight like this.
- I know I'm going to be frustrated with NZ fashion and lack of baked goods when I get back! Probably sulk for a few months before I set foot in Glassons...
- Everything in this trip has fallen into place perfectly. I've been well looked after and had plenty of angels help me out. In the words of my wise friend Rashi, "everyone can be an angel to somebody". Chur Rashi! And sometimes I think there's more to it also.
- It's all about the people. Including NZ people. So I'm ready to go back and have some cakey reunions. YAY
-When I first arrived in Europe I was scared to sit in the wrong seat in the train or to order food or eat alone at restaurants. I probably walked around like a lost scared little sheep. I didn't like hanging out by myself because it was scary. I was worried I'd get hit by trams when crossing the roads. I let people push in the queue in front of me and didn't know how to use the dont-mess-with-me European look or the I'm-not-foreign strut. I guess I must have changed because all I can say to that now is: FUNNY
- This trip wasnt a standard tourist trip. I got to do tonnes of random extra stuff. It was completely worth it. My advice would be don't cave to the pressure to do and see certain things. If you are an explorer at heart, you will find other things that interest you and get different memories than everyone else.
- I kinda like writing. What am I gonna write now?
(on that note, what am I gonna DO now? Anyone want to order some chocolates...?)
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Quality Airport Hotel Dan in Copenhagen
This is not ok!
It's 5.30am and the stupid hotel gave me a wakeup call including phone AND blaring TV over my bed at 5am! I specifically told them yesterday that I'm leaving not until midday.
I came here to sleep because I'm exhausted and had migrain yesterday and then starting from 3pm today im travelling for the next 40 or more hours.
I'm one of those people who cant get back to sleep. I just wanted one night with 8 hours sleep graaaaa
I called the reception and complained (just now) and explained that I never wanted a wake up call. The guy said "Your group leader asked for it."
Me: What group leader.
Him: Hold on a sec. OH. Ok. I see. So we've done a mixup and we changed your room.
Me: Uh...........?
Him: I'm terribly sorry about that.
I explained I have 40 hours of flying ahead and that I cant get back to sleep now. He just said "Sorry" and "Sorry about that" followed by "I'm terribly sorry about that" and then hung up.
What am I supposed to do?
What a stupid ripoff hotel! And it turns out I have to pay NZ$30 for breakfast that I thought was included!
Oh and my room is kinda dirty. So much for getting what you pay for. What crap.
It's Quality Airport Hotel Dan by the way.
IM SO TIRED and from this point in time right now I wont be back in NZ for exactly FIFTY FOUR hours
:(
It's 5.30am and the stupid hotel gave me a wakeup call including phone AND blaring TV over my bed at 5am! I specifically told them yesterday that I'm leaving not until midday.
I came here to sleep because I'm exhausted and had migrain yesterday and then starting from 3pm today im travelling for the next 40 or more hours.
I'm one of those people who cant get back to sleep. I just wanted one night with 8 hours sleep graaaaa
I called the reception and complained (just now) and explained that I never wanted a wake up call. The guy said "Your group leader asked for it."
Me: What group leader.
Him: Hold on a sec. OH. Ok. I see. So we've done a mixup and we changed your room.
Me: Uh...........?
Him: I'm terribly sorry about that.
I explained I have 40 hours of flying ahead and that I cant get back to sleep now. He just said "Sorry" and "Sorry about that" followed by "I'm terribly sorry about that" and then hung up.
What am I supposed to do?
What a stupid ripoff hotel! And it turns out I have to pay NZ$30 for breakfast that I thought was included!
Oh and my room is kinda dirty. So much for getting what you pay for. What crap.
It's Quality Airport Hotel Dan by the way.
IM SO TIRED and from this point in time right now I wont be back in NZ for exactly FIFTY FOUR hours
:(
Swedish weddings are crazy
I'm tired. I'm so tired I nearly fell asleep every few seconds on the train even with this big dude next to me breathing so loudly that it sounded like he was snoring and I could hear it through my iPod, blocked out only by the incessant swedish announcements.
I'm so tired it took me until 5pm to realise I am wearing the same underwear as yesterday and havent got changed yet. I wonder if I brushed my teeth this morning? This afternoon? Will I ever find out?
This morning I went downstairs (outside through the rain and wind) in my pyjamas to open my suitcase, forgot what I was opening it for, removed the padlock and took it with me up to my bedroom, where I may or may not have gone back to bed. I still don't know why I did that.
I even gave an un-Amy-like comment to my unfriendly taxi driver when he announced he had no change. And then he went into the hotel to get change. And then I felt very relieved to go into the hotel too and notice that it's a big commerical chain hotel where no-one really cares about you and its a bit dirty because who cares it's an airport hotel and you'll only be here one night anyway, and you can go and eat all the food from the minibar and fill the bin with your trash because they don't know who you are and you don't know who they are, and if you want to complain about something you can do so in a loud voice and you will probably get some standard line that the receptionist reads off the computer screen and a token gift to bribe you such as maybe chocolate? Mm commercialism.
Anyway I was saying I'm tired.
Erg. Ok last time I was in Copenhagen..
Yeah so I went to Nassjo on the train and it's pretty nice being met at the train station I guess when you are used to travelling alone. Met by the lovely Karoline herself on the day before her wedding!
I stayed at their place the first night with the parents and sister and brother in law and Paraguayan parents (the Dad is a musician and singer of the classic Paraguayan variety and gave me a CD for my Dad since he used to live there - remind me when I get back... no idea where I put it...)
Evenings filled with eating and a kitchen overflowing with 3 languages and poor Karoline being the only one who can translate for everyone! Very very very nice and warm welcoming people and yes I love Swedish food what did you expect?
Went to shops with K inlcuding a homewares shop with Godis (Goodies/Lollies) down the back. Soon as I stepped in the door I knew what it was because it had the Swedish Godis smell. Oh did I mention I got some godis. Mm.
The next morning I had the extreme honour and priveledge of going with K to the hairdresser salon at 7.30am to get her hair and makeup done. The salon was closed for the day except for the girl doing Karoline. To my delight she said that since the place was otherwise empty I could use any equipment of products liked, including products from the whole wall of makeup. So that kept me happily occupied not to mention being sweden they had bowls of candy scattered all around the funky salon.
After that some quick jobs at the Pingstkyrkan in Nassjo where the reception was to be held, and then off to Eksjo for the ceremony. These are both small towns in Southern sweden not that different to Jonkoping I don't think.
I was lucky to meet a friend called Rebecca who visited NZ a few years back and we met because Karoline helped connect us, and here she was again, translating for me, woot! So I had a buddy.
It started to rain the day of the wedding and inspite of recent heatwaves can I point out it was a whopping 10 degrees celcius outside at 1.30pm before ceremony! Yikes. Raining cats and dogs.
Ceremony: Different to NZ. For a start the couple enter together - not just the bride with her dad. So the only person waiting at the front is the minister dude. I found that strange because I guess we usually think of it like the groom gets to see his wife-to-be for the first time when she's walking up the aisle, and thats what makes it special. But for the Swedish it's more like they are coming together to the church, with a choice they have made together to make a promise, and we happen to be there to witness it. So I guess it's just different ways of looking at it.
It was more formal than NZ weddings because instead of being MC-ed, we just followed through the programme in the booklet, which reminded me a bit of maybe like an Anglican church mass thing where they read through the things together etc? I don't know much about that tho so I'll shut up.
There was lots of singing and on the couple's way out of the church, a nice happy song came on and they even did a little dance on their way out which was one of my favourite moments. I think the song was like "Tell everybody I'm on my way" sung by some of the girls.
Then we waited outside under umbrellas and were given little sachets of rice to open and throw on the couple. Couldn't really get it past the umbrella's I'm afraid! And everyone lined up and went to personally hug both the bride and groom outside the church. Then mad scurries to cars to go immediately to the reception.
Reception was VERY different to NZ weddings. Without going into lots of detail, I guess I'd say that whereas the cermoney was more formal, the reception was much more INformal. Very lighthearted and happy and TONNES of games and skits and videos and speeches and tributes and plays and photos and singing (both performances and the whole group together - Swedes LOVE to sing) and more games and more singing and slideshows and intermissions.
AMAZING buffet food including a million kinds of salad (I love swedish salad because it's never based around lettuce like boring NZ salad) and endless whole smoked salmons and pies and cheeses etc. Every time a platter got half-empty to host's whipped it away and replaced it with a completely full one. So no matter when you approached the table it was piled high with food.
Followed by more games and quizzes from our little booklets and then dessert which was served indivually with a cup of raspberry-vanilla pannacotta for each person. Along with coffee galore and bowls of royal Swedish chocolates along each table.
More games songs slideshows etc and then:
EIGHT wedding cakes.
You heard right. Each and every one was a proper Swedish torte which we would call gateau. I think Strawberry cream flavour. Like Princess Cake but white. Alongside that were bowls and bowls of candy because of course this is Sweden, and Swedes are one of the few European countries that really do candy (as opposed to just chocolate).
By this stage it was 1.30am and we had been going non-stop 11.5 hours. I'm not kidding. They really love to celebrate and have fun. The bride and groom were called on stage to do various funny tasks and basically make fun of themselves and be gifted by the love and attention of all their friends who had put SO much energy into all this entertainment.
Some parts reminded me a little of a 21st actually. Like all the tributes and embarrasment and childhood stories etc.
I met some girls who I was to go stay at a place with that night - none of us knew what it actually was but after we found it, in the rain and dark, we discovered it was a very very old cottage with a toilet in another building at the end of the yard, and the only way to get to the bedroom is to go upstair outside. We were quite excited and scared and lots of squeals of discovery haha. Think of the house from Pyscho, with 3 girls, and a storm outside.
We huddled under blankets and in the morning I woke up with the most intense headache which I'm sorry to say was a Migrain.
All this time avoiding Migrains and I got hit on my second-to-last night in Europe! I popped 2 magic migrain pills but they didn't work and I was shaking with nausea and pain when the others left.
Anyways, long story short, it got better, I made it to the second half of the wedding lunch, enjoyed great leftovers, hung with these lovely people, and then got a train here to Copenhagen airport. Where I'm sleeping nearby tonight.
I dont know if this post made sense... I'm very tired.
I'm so tired it took me until 5pm to realise I am wearing the same underwear as yesterday and havent got changed yet. I wonder if I brushed my teeth this morning? This afternoon? Will I ever find out?
This morning I went downstairs (outside through the rain and wind) in my pyjamas to open my suitcase, forgot what I was opening it for, removed the padlock and took it with me up to my bedroom, where I may or may not have gone back to bed. I still don't know why I did that.
I even gave an un-Amy-like comment to my unfriendly taxi driver when he announced he had no change. And then he went into the hotel to get change. And then I felt very relieved to go into the hotel too and notice that it's a big commerical chain hotel where no-one really cares about you and its a bit dirty because who cares it's an airport hotel and you'll only be here one night anyway, and you can go and eat all the food from the minibar and fill the bin with your trash because they don't know who you are and you don't know who they are, and if you want to complain about something you can do so in a loud voice and you will probably get some standard line that the receptionist reads off the computer screen and a token gift to bribe you such as maybe chocolate? Mm commercialism.
Anyway I was saying I'm tired.
Erg. Ok last time I was in Copenhagen..
Yeah so I went to Nassjo on the train and it's pretty nice being met at the train station I guess when you are used to travelling alone. Met by the lovely Karoline herself on the day before her wedding!
I stayed at their place the first night with the parents and sister and brother in law and Paraguayan parents (the Dad is a musician and singer of the classic Paraguayan variety and gave me a CD for my Dad since he used to live there - remind me when I get back... no idea where I put it...)
Evenings filled with eating and a kitchen overflowing with 3 languages and poor Karoline being the only one who can translate for everyone! Very very very nice and warm welcoming people and yes I love Swedish food what did you expect?
Went to shops with K inlcuding a homewares shop with Godis (Goodies/Lollies) down the back. Soon as I stepped in the door I knew what it was because it had the Swedish Godis smell. Oh did I mention I got some godis. Mm.
The next morning I had the extreme honour and priveledge of going with K to the hairdresser salon at 7.30am to get her hair and makeup done. The salon was closed for the day except for the girl doing Karoline. To my delight she said that since the place was otherwise empty I could use any equipment of products liked, including products from the whole wall of makeup. So that kept me happily occupied not to mention being sweden they had bowls of candy scattered all around the funky salon.
After that some quick jobs at the Pingstkyrkan in Nassjo where the reception was to be held, and then off to Eksjo for the ceremony. These are both small towns in Southern sweden not that different to Jonkoping I don't think.
I was lucky to meet a friend called Rebecca who visited NZ a few years back and we met because Karoline helped connect us, and here she was again, translating for me, woot! So I had a buddy.
It started to rain the day of the wedding and inspite of recent heatwaves can I point out it was a whopping 10 degrees celcius outside at 1.30pm before ceremony! Yikes. Raining cats and dogs.
Ceremony: Different to NZ. For a start the couple enter together - not just the bride with her dad. So the only person waiting at the front is the minister dude. I found that strange because I guess we usually think of it like the groom gets to see his wife-to-be for the first time when she's walking up the aisle, and thats what makes it special. But for the Swedish it's more like they are coming together to the church, with a choice they have made together to make a promise, and we happen to be there to witness it. So I guess it's just different ways of looking at it.
It was more formal than NZ weddings because instead of being MC-ed, we just followed through the programme in the booklet, which reminded me a bit of maybe like an Anglican church mass thing where they read through the things together etc? I don't know much about that tho so I'll shut up.
There was lots of singing and on the couple's way out of the church, a nice happy song came on and they even did a little dance on their way out which was one of my favourite moments. I think the song was like "Tell everybody I'm on my way" sung by some of the girls.
Then we waited outside under umbrellas and were given little sachets of rice to open and throw on the couple. Couldn't really get it past the umbrella's I'm afraid! And everyone lined up and went to personally hug both the bride and groom outside the church. Then mad scurries to cars to go immediately to the reception.
Reception was VERY different to NZ weddings. Without going into lots of detail, I guess I'd say that whereas the cermoney was more formal, the reception was much more INformal. Very lighthearted and happy and TONNES of games and skits and videos and speeches and tributes and plays and photos and singing (both performances and the whole group together - Swedes LOVE to sing) and more games and more singing and slideshows and intermissions.
AMAZING buffet food including a million kinds of salad (I love swedish salad because it's never based around lettuce like boring NZ salad) and endless whole smoked salmons and pies and cheeses etc. Every time a platter got half-empty to host's whipped it away and replaced it with a completely full one. So no matter when you approached the table it was piled high with food.
Followed by more games and quizzes from our little booklets and then dessert which was served indivually with a cup of raspberry-vanilla pannacotta for each person. Along with coffee galore and bowls of royal Swedish chocolates along each table.
More games songs slideshows etc and then:
EIGHT wedding cakes.
You heard right. Each and every one was a proper Swedish torte which we would call gateau. I think Strawberry cream flavour. Like Princess Cake but white. Alongside that were bowls and bowls of candy because of course this is Sweden, and Swedes are one of the few European countries that really do candy (as opposed to just chocolate).
By this stage it was 1.30am and we had been going non-stop 11.5 hours. I'm not kidding. They really love to celebrate and have fun. The bride and groom were called on stage to do various funny tasks and basically make fun of themselves and be gifted by the love and attention of all their friends who had put SO much energy into all this entertainment.
Some parts reminded me a little of a 21st actually. Like all the tributes and embarrasment and childhood stories etc.
I met some girls who I was to go stay at a place with that night - none of us knew what it actually was but after we found it, in the rain and dark, we discovered it was a very very old cottage with a toilet in another building at the end of the yard, and the only way to get to the bedroom is to go upstair outside. We were quite excited and scared and lots of squeals of discovery haha. Think of the house from Pyscho, with 3 girls, and a storm outside.
We huddled under blankets and in the morning I woke up with the most intense headache which I'm sorry to say was a Migrain.
All this time avoiding Migrains and I got hit on my second-to-last night in Europe! I popped 2 magic migrain pills but they didn't work and I was shaking with nausea and pain when the others left.
Anyways, long story short, it got better, I made it to the second half of the wedding lunch, enjoyed great leftovers, hung with these lovely people, and then got a train here to Copenhagen airport. Where I'm sleeping nearby tonight.
I dont know if this post made sense... I'm very tired.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
I love Copenhagen Airport Times a Million
Well, I'm only saying that because this time I haven't had a chance to get into Copenhagen city itself, which I also love, times a million.
But I'm not starting there, I'm starting back in the Grande Duchy of Luxembourg!
I trudged down the road to the campsite "Aal" after being farewelled from the Hotel with a load of extra fees and what I think was pretty crap service, both times that I went there.
Not that I want to be defaming anyone, but here's a tip: If you want to stay in the Ardennes region of Luxembourg, don't go to the "Hotel de la Sure". It thinks it owns the town.
Met up with the camping-trip peoples. They were all from the UK except one girl from Vienna. I guess I expected more of a youth-group vibe but I turned out to be one of the youngest there by quite a bit. A lot of older people (50s) outnumbering the younger. There were all very friendly tho and so, yes Rashi, I did spend a week with happy christians - guitar and singalongs included.
I have to say I'm glad to be a real room instead of a tent tonight. I was sleeping on the ground and every night wearing pretty much ALL my clothes to try keep warm.
We did different activities every day which was cool - my favourites:
Exploring Luxembourg City (the city and country have the same name... wierd) for a day. I have this to say about Luxembourgers: Baditude!
They speak a mix of French and German and ooze a kinda punkish but sometimes posh style. Think 'Tatu' meets Victoria Beckham. But more exotic. The train station was sprinkled with bogans including pretty teenage girls with completely shaved heads and various piercings. They scream Whos Pretty Now? Then you get into the Old Town and it's all pretty and beautiful and you can sort of see how it originally was as a fortified city, including exploring the battlement caves underground. This side of town was sprinkled with well-heeled women and all that French/Italian elegance that comes naturally to these people without looking like they tried. A large mix of all shades of skin and lots of mixed black-and-white families. All seemed kinda exotic to me.
I stumbled across a cafe called "The Chocolate Company" which of COURSE I patronised and I managed to get the rest of the group to come with me.
We enjoyed a few huge slices of amazing cherry gateau ("It was like, THIS BIG") and I got a hot chocolate which was aniseed-hazelnut-blackforest-cherry flavour. Just to try.
We also went to the amazing huge caves far underground at Hotton, and on the way we stopped at.. BELGIUM.
I was very excited about this bonus since I wasn't able to go to Belgium other than that. It was a small and extremely cute town called La Roche that was dripping with Belgium-ness and even tho I dont know anyhting about how Belgium should look, it was exactly how I pictured it. A bit dirtier and greyer than say Austria, but still quaint. More stone-work on the houses.
Naturally I got a few gifts there and chocolate and a strawberry tart.
Add Belgian to a word and it suddenly becomes amazing. Belgian Chocolate. Belgian Biscuits. Belgian Beer. I'm thinking of doing this with all my words from now on.
We also spent a day kayaking and another day on a solar boat during which a few things happened:
- i got slightly sunburnt (I'm now quite brown which you may not believe. Being with pastey English people helped)
- saw lots of wildlife
- saw lots of "wild life" of the human kind. GAK. Europeans have no shame. I'm not just talking about simple innocent nudity either.
We used the campground cafe a lot and had a final get together there last night. I was lucky to have 2 great tent buddies, Sarah and Judith, who it wouldn't have been the same without.
I actually acquired a few English-isms like saying "luvly" a lot and pronouncing O's like the queen.
Won't last long, don't worry.
Then today I packed up early to head alone to Luxembourg for a few more hours and then got a flight here to Copenhagen. You had to pay for even a bottle of water on board which I thought was insane because it's a good airline and costs 200 British Pounds for the 1 hour flight! I said nooo thankyou to that.
Great airport - lots of shops and so far helpful staff.
Tomorrow off to the wedding in Sweden which I think will mean I'm sleeping in a cabin near a lake. Woot! Hope they won't mind my 2-months-squashed wedding outfit.
But I'm not starting there, I'm starting back in the Grande Duchy of Luxembourg!
I trudged down the road to the campsite "Aal" after being farewelled from the Hotel with a load of extra fees and what I think was pretty crap service, both times that I went there.
Not that I want to be defaming anyone, but here's a tip: If you want to stay in the Ardennes region of Luxembourg, don't go to the "Hotel de la Sure". It thinks it owns the town.
Met up with the camping-trip peoples. They were all from the UK except one girl from Vienna. I guess I expected more of a youth-group vibe but I turned out to be one of the youngest there by quite a bit. A lot of older people (50s) outnumbering the younger. There were all very friendly tho and so, yes Rashi, I did spend a week with happy christians - guitar and singalongs included.
I have to say I'm glad to be a real room instead of a tent tonight. I was sleeping on the ground and every night wearing pretty much ALL my clothes to try keep warm.
We did different activities every day which was cool - my favourites:
Exploring Luxembourg City (the city and country have the same name... wierd) for a day. I have this to say about Luxembourgers: Baditude!
They speak a mix of French and German and ooze a kinda punkish but sometimes posh style. Think 'Tatu' meets Victoria Beckham. But more exotic. The train station was sprinkled with bogans including pretty teenage girls with completely shaved heads and various piercings. They scream Whos Pretty Now? Then you get into the Old Town and it's all pretty and beautiful and you can sort of see how it originally was as a fortified city, including exploring the battlement caves underground. This side of town was sprinkled with well-heeled women and all that French/Italian elegance that comes naturally to these people without looking like they tried. A large mix of all shades of skin and lots of mixed black-and-white families. All seemed kinda exotic to me.
I stumbled across a cafe called "The Chocolate Company" which of COURSE I patronised and I managed to get the rest of the group to come with me.
We enjoyed a few huge slices of amazing cherry gateau ("It was like, THIS BIG") and I got a hot chocolate which was aniseed-hazelnut-blackforest-cherry flavour. Just to try.
We also went to the amazing huge caves far underground at Hotton, and on the way we stopped at.. BELGIUM.
I was very excited about this bonus since I wasn't able to go to Belgium other than that. It was a small and extremely cute town called La Roche that was dripping with Belgium-ness and even tho I dont know anyhting about how Belgium should look, it was exactly how I pictured it. A bit dirtier and greyer than say Austria, but still quaint. More stone-work on the houses.
Naturally I got a few gifts there and chocolate and a strawberry tart.
Add Belgian to a word and it suddenly becomes amazing. Belgian Chocolate. Belgian Biscuits. Belgian Beer. I'm thinking of doing this with all my words from now on.
We also spent a day kayaking and another day on a solar boat during which a few things happened:
- i got slightly sunburnt (I'm now quite brown which you may not believe. Being with pastey English people helped)
- saw lots of wildlife
- saw lots of "wild life" of the human kind. GAK. Europeans have no shame. I'm not just talking about simple innocent nudity either.
We used the campground cafe a lot and had a final get together there last night. I was lucky to have 2 great tent buddies, Sarah and Judith, who it wouldn't have been the same without.
I actually acquired a few English-isms like saying "luvly" a lot and pronouncing O's like the queen.
Won't last long, don't worry.
Then today I packed up early to head alone to Luxembourg for a few more hours and then got a flight here to Copenhagen. You had to pay for even a bottle of water on board which I thought was insane because it's a good airline and costs 200 British Pounds for the 1 hour flight! I said nooo thankyou to that.
Great airport - lots of shops and so far helpful staff.
Tomorrow off to the wedding in Sweden which I think will mean I'm sleeping in a cabin near a lake. Woot! Hope they won't mind my 2-months-squashed wedding outfit.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The Grande Duchy of Luxembourg and another name I can't pronounce
It's something like Eschh Shhhhure Shuuurrrre. Spellt Eash-sur-Sure.
I said goodbye to Switzerland with a urine-smelling train and a sweet hazelnut pastry from Bahmann's in a paper bag. I thought it was cinnamon. Bummer.
After that first train ride, I arrived at Basel which is part of Switzerland, but little did I know I had to enter the French sector of the railway station. The instance you step through those dirty doors you become a part of a secret French society where no-one speaks English, or German, even the train staff, and you have to wait on a wait on a separate platform like a lonely French island for the crap trains, while all the nice clean Swiss people waited on their nice clean Swiss platform islands for nice clean Swiss trains.
French people weren’t so polite.
My seat was reserved on a carriage which apparently didn’t exist. Ran around like headless chicken to find carriage. Eventually found someone else who had same problem. Train guard NOT helpful. Ended up sitting with Japanese-Swiss man who works for the U.N, talking about countries and travel. (His words of wisdom re the Paris dirtyness and let-down-ness which I totally agree with: “Paris. It’s made for being looked at. Not experienced.”
Realised that we had to drive through France to get to Luxembourg. French passport control gave me lots of smiles and possibly a smothered wink. Weren’t so nice to Japan.
Looking out window when entering Luxembourg, noticed that Luxembourg as a whole, looks like a small poor German town with lots of dirty factories.
Japanese man can’t believe I am staying 8 days. He is staying in the country one night and already run out of things to do before he left the station.
follow that by 2 more train rides plus a bus ride and a bit of a hike, wheeling my luggage uphill, through a monsoon, and here I am at 8pm in Esch-sur-Sŭre, a tiny village in the “Grand Duchy of Luxembourg” which no-one in their right mind would ever come to, unless they lived a couple kilometres away.
I actually feel like I am at the end of the earth.
Locals: Mostly bogans actually...
Hotel Lady: “Are you amyska?”
Thank you lady for making assumptions based on the email address haha...
Hotel Lady to Hotel Boy: “Take her to the room”
Amyshka and Hotel Boy: Walk 3 blocks in the rain to get to my ”room” which is on the other side of the village. After all that lugging my luggage up the hill, it turns out I am staying down the bottom of it...
Suitcase condition: Saturated
Amyshka: Hungry. Decided the brave the bogans and go to the hotel bar/restaurant for dinner. It's the only place with internet. I sit here now with a very weak wireless signal, in a cute and quaint bar that's basically what you would imagine a tiny bad/restaurant in southern France to be. Except it's not France. It's Luxembourg. I'm sure there must be some difference...
Tiled floors, stone walls, wooden tables, someones dog tied to a table leg... and Amyshka.
I ordered fish soup which even Hotel Boy seemed concerned about "That's all??? You don't want meat?"
Oh ok, so there IS some German-ness here.
Tomorrow I meet up with the Oak Hall group for a full week of camping. Hope the monsoon quits.
I said goodbye to Switzerland with a urine-smelling train and a sweet hazelnut pastry from Bahmann's in a paper bag. I thought it was cinnamon. Bummer.
After that first train ride, I arrived at Basel which is part of Switzerland, but little did I know I had to enter the French sector of the railway station. The instance you step through those dirty doors you become a part of a secret French society where no-one speaks English, or German, even the train staff, and you have to wait on a wait on a separate platform like a lonely French island for the crap trains, while all the nice clean Swiss people waited on their nice clean Swiss platform islands for nice clean Swiss trains.
French people weren’t so polite.
My seat was reserved on a carriage which apparently didn’t exist. Ran around like headless chicken to find carriage. Eventually found someone else who had same problem. Train guard NOT helpful. Ended up sitting with Japanese-Swiss man who works for the U.N, talking about countries and travel. (His words of wisdom re the Paris dirtyness and let-down-ness which I totally agree with: “Paris. It’s made for being looked at. Not experienced.”
Realised that we had to drive through France to get to Luxembourg. French passport control gave me lots of smiles and possibly a smothered wink. Weren’t so nice to Japan.
Looking out window when entering Luxembourg, noticed that Luxembourg as a whole, looks like a small poor German town with lots of dirty factories.
Japanese man can’t believe I am staying 8 days. He is staying in the country one night and already run out of things to do before he left the station.
follow that by 2 more train rides plus a bus ride and a bit of a hike, wheeling my luggage uphill, through a monsoon, and here I am at 8pm in Esch-sur-Sŭre, a tiny village in the “Grand Duchy of Luxembourg” which no-one in their right mind would ever come to, unless they lived a couple kilometres away.
I actually feel like I am at the end of the earth.
Locals: Mostly bogans actually...
Hotel Lady: “Are you amyska?”
Thank you lady for making assumptions based on the email address haha...
Hotel Lady to Hotel Boy: “Take her to the room”
Amyshka and Hotel Boy: Walk 3 blocks in the rain to get to my ”room” which is on the other side of the village. After all that lugging my luggage up the hill, it turns out I am staying down the bottom of it...
Suitcase condition: Saturated
Amyshka: Hungry. Decided the brave the bogans and go to the hotel bar/restaurant for dinner. It's the only place with internet. I sit here now with a very weak wireless signal, in a cute and quaint bar that's basically what you would imagine a tiny bad/restaurant in southern France to be. Except it's not France. It's Luxembourg. I'm sure there must be some difference...
Tiled floors, stone walls, wooden tables, someones dog tied to a table leg... and Amyshka.
I ordered fish soup which even Hotel Boy seemed concerned about "That's all??? You don't want meat?"
Oh ok, so there IS some German-ness here.
Tomorrow I meet up with the Oak Hall group for a full week of camping. Hope the monsoon quits.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
I still lurve Luz
A little more about Lucerne...
It ROCKS
I spent the morning seeing the sights, midday sheltering from sun, and afternoon climbing to the top of the city wall plus tasting chocolates.
I was super pleased to finally find the Heini Tearooms! They aren’t advertised in any tourist brochure but they are the place you have to go. I was lucky to stumble across that in a random internet review. I like going to these non-sponsored places...
I tried 3 chocolates, 2 of which are Lucerne specialties. I didn’t come here just to pay for normal chocolate. They are called Lozaerner Raegetroepfli which means “Raindrops from Lucerne”. Cherry-liquer filled. The milk chocolate one actually goes with the filling best, surprisingly.
I also bought a giant pretzel today because it’s been on my list of things to try. I mainly got it for the photo opp. Which can say was TRULY STUNNING as you will see below. It's dedicated to Liz Cashmore.
Oh yeah, AND a rhubarb-white-chocolate truffle, for the novelty. It was actually super good. Probably because it tasted more like lollies that chocolate, and I like that tang instead of plain chocolate sweetness...
I saw the dying-lion statue which is a pretty amazing work of art. There is a stone cliff and carved into it is a life-sized lion who is in the throes of death... he looks very sad.
It’s to commemorate soldiers who died protecting that famous royal chick from way back. I know she ate macaroons and they made a movie about her.
Now I am trying to figure out how on earth to get to this tiny isolated town of only 300 people, in the north of Luxembourg with no train routes, tomorrow. And to eat this berry-quark mousse from Bachmanns. Mm.
It ROCKS
I spent the morning seeing the sights, midday sheltering from sun, and afternoon climbing to the top of the city wall plus tasting chocolates.
I was super pleased to finally find the Heini Tearooms! They aren’t advertised in any tourist brochure but they are the place you have to go. I was lucky to stumble across that in a random internet review. I like going to these non-sponsored places...
I tried 3 chocolates, 2 of which are Lucerne specialties. I didn’t come here just to pay for normal chocolate. They are called Lozaerner Raegetroepfli which means “Raindrops from Lucerne”. Cherry-liquer filled. The milk chocolate one actually goes with the filling best, surprisingly.
I also bought a giant pretzel today because it’s been on my list of things to try. I mainly got it for the photo opp. Which can say was TRULY STUNNING as you will see below. It's dedicated to Liz Cashmore.
Oh yeah, AND a rhubarb-white-chocolate truffle, for the novelty. It was actually super good. Probably because it tasted more like lollies that chocolate, and I like that tang instead of plain chocolate sweetness...
I saw the dying-lion statue which is a pretty amazing work of art. There is a stone cliff and carved into it is a life-sized lion who is in the throes of death... he looks very sad.
It’s to commemorate soldiers who died protecting that famous royal chick from way back. I know she ate macaroons and they made a movie about her.
Now I am trying to figure out how on earth to get to this tiny isolated town of only 300 people, in the north of Luxembourg with no train routes, tomorrow. And to eat this berry-quark mousse from Bachmanns. Mm.
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